System, program product, and methods for online image handling

ABSTRACT

A system to facilitate electronic commerce associated with an online marketplace, program product, and methods are provided. Electronic commerce over a computer network is facilitated by a computer system that forms a community of computers that enable the users to buy and sell items in an online marketplace. To list the item on an online marketplace website, for example, the selling user posts an item with a seller marketplace item management website by completing an online-item marketplace item creation form. The form requires input related to the item, such as a description, sale price or minimum bid, shipping instructions, and the like, and an image file or image file location illustrating the marketplace item. The seller marketplace item management server provides a marketplace administrator server the marketplace item data including original image file or image file location. The server contains a random image size generator that generates at least two additional images of the marketplace item for display in a seller marketplace item web page to advertise the marketplace item.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/181,016, filed Jul. 12, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,452,691, which is adivision of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/524,985, filed Sep. 21,2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,979,340, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/719,673, filed on Sep. 21, 2005, and isrelated to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/210,230, by Korth et al.,titled “System, Program Product, and Methods for Online Image Handling,”filed on Aug. 23, 2005, which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties, including but not limited to those portions thatspecifically appear hereinafter, the incorporation by reference beingmade with the following exception: In the event that any portion of theabove-referenced applications are inconsistent with this application,this application supercedes the above-referenced applications.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

1. The Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to electronic commerce and, inparticular, to systems, program product, and methods of electroniccommerce through communication networks that utilize online imagehandling to provide users with images of products during onlineactivities.

2. Description of Related Art

Millions of consumers each year purchase merchandise online throughelectronic communication (e.g., via the World Wide Web (the “Web”)),making online shopping a multibillion dollar industry. Not only areconsumers purchasing new items from online retailers, but consumers arealso purchasing items, sometimes previously owned by others, throughonline marketplaces, e.g., auction sites. With online marketplaces,purchasers can often locate rare collector's items and find good dealson items that they want or need.

Purchasers are not the only ones that have benefited from onlinemarketplaces. Sellers no longer have to resort to local newspaper ads orgarage sales to sell their products, both of which take time and onlyallow sellers to market their products to local buyers. For a smallamount of time and money, sellers can have worldwide access to potentialpurchasers for their items. Many people supplement their income byselling items, such as clothing and toys that their children haveoutgrown, through online marketplaces. For example, instead of givingthe clothing and toys away, sellers can resell the items and recoup atleast a portion of the original purchase price.

In some online marketplaces, when a seller decides that they want tosell a product online, the seller typically completes a productregistration form and provides a digital image of the item. Theregistration form of an auction site, for example, typically includesinformation, such as contact information, product description, startingbid price, the duration of the auction, shipping details, and the like.The registration form and the digital image are uploaded to the onlineauction website's server, where a selling webpage is generated, or theitem is added to an existing webpage, to thereby include and advertisethe item that is being sold. On the selling webpage, a miniature copy ofthe digital image of the item is often displayed along with the itemdescription to enable potential buyers to view the item online. If thedigital picture was not a close-up picture of the item, it can bedifficult to see the item in the miniature copy of the digital image.

In a typical online marketplace transaction, a potential buyer decidesupon a good or service that they are interested in purchasing. Thepotential buyer then initiates access to an online marketplacee-commerce website via the Web, perhaps after conducting a search forthe website with a commercial search engine. After the desiredmarketplace website is located, the potential buyer searches themarketplace website for the desired good or service, either byconducting a search of the website or by paging through the websitecontent. The website content typically contains a title for the item andoften a miniature image of the item. If the potential buyer wants tolearn more about the item or see a closer view of the item, thepotential buyer will click on the title and/or the miniature image toaccess a detailed description and larger image of the item. The largerimage located on this web page is the same as the original digital imagesupplied by the selling user. An even larger image of the item can beaccessed by clicking on the original sized digital image.

In the auction example, if the potential buyer wants to make a bid toattempt to successfully purchase the item, the potential buyer can makea bid for the item. If at the time of the end of auction, the potentialbuyer has the highest bid, then the potential buyer will be able topurchase the item from the selling user. Once the payment has beensubmitted to the selling user, the selling user usually is responsiblefor shipping the item to the buyer in accordance with the shippinginstructions that were listed with the detailed description of the item.

Although most current marketplace websites have some usefulness, theirshortcomings collectively represent impediments to the conduct ofe-commerce, which are addressed and overcome by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, embodiments of the present inventionadvantageously provide enhanced methods, program products, and systemsof facilitating electronic commerce between a selling user computer anda potential buyer computer over a network. For example, embodiments ofsystems, program products, and methods of the present inventionadvantageously can enhance the quality of images provided in e-commercetype of transactions and can enhance transaction presentation or launchspeeds in some types of e-commerce transactions. Also, embodiments ofsystems, program products, and methods can enhance images to bedisplayed to potential buyers.

Embodiments of the present invention include a system to facilitatee-commerce associated with an online marketplace between a plurality ofselling users and a plurality of potential buyers over a computernetwork. For example, an embodiment of a system can include a hostcomputer accessible to the computer network to host the onlinemarketplace, e.g., online auction website, to thereby define amarketplace (e.g., auction site) administrator server. The marketplaceadministrator server can include memory coupled to a processor to storeoperating instructions therein and an online-commerce program product.The system can also include a marketplace administrator server databaseaccessible to the processor of the marketplace administrator server andhaving database records related to a plurality of marketplace items tobe sold by the plurality of selling users, and a marketplaceadministrator image file server accessible to the processor of themarketplace administrator server and having image files related to theplurality of marketplace items to be sold by the plurality of sellingusers.

The system can also include a second computer positioned remote from themarketplace administrator server and each of the selling users andaccessible to the computer network to provide seller marketplacemanagement services to the plurality of selling users to thereby definea seller marketplace management server. The seller marketplacemanagement server has a processor and memory coupled to the processor tostore operating instructions therein. The seller marketplace managementserver can provide tools to design custom sale item postings,consolidate postings to be used on multiple online marketplaces, and canprovide data delivery services for various items to be sold/advertised.As such, a seller marketplace item management server database accessibleto the processor of the seller marketplace item management server isprovided to receive and store, at least temporarily, database recordsrelated to the plurality of marketplace items to be sold by theplurality of selling users. A marketplace administrator image fileserver accessible to the processor of the marketplace administratorserver is also provided to receive and store image files related to theplurality of marketplace items to be sold by the plurality of sellingusers.

The system can also include a plurality of selling user computers mostof which can be positioned separately at a corresponding plurality ofselling user sites remote from both the seller marketplace itemmanagement server and the marketplace administrator server butaccessible to the computer network. Each selling user computer can havea processor and memory coupled to the processor to store operatinginstructions therein and to send data related to items for sale, e.g.,via auction or direct sales, to the seller marketplace item managementserver, and a display in communication with the processor to graphicallydisplay auction items or other forms of items for sale using anassociated selling user web browser stored in the memory. The systemcorrespondingly can also include a plurality of potential buyercomputers most of which also can be positioned separately at acorresponding plurality of potential buyer user sites remote from boththe seller marketplace item management server and the marketplaceadministrator server but also accessible to the computer network. Eachpotential buyer computer can have a processor and memory coupled to theprocessor to store operating instructions therein and to receive datarelated to items for sale, and a display in communication with theprocessor to graphically display seller marketplace item web pagesaccessed through the computer network using an associated potentialbuyer web browser stored in the memory.

The system can also include seller marketplace item management programproduct stored in the memory of the seller marketplace management serverto facilitate seller marketplace item management between the pluralityof selling users and the online marketplace.

The seller marketplace item management program product can includeinstructions that, when executed by the seller marketplace managementserver, cause the seller marketplace management server to perform theoperations of presenting an marketplace-item-creation form for sellingor presenting a marketplace item, either through direct sales or throughauction sales, to a selling user web browser over a computer or othercommunication network. The selling user, preferably previouslyregistered with one or more online marketplaces, accesses themarketplace-item-creation form through the seller marketplace itemmanagement server, to thereby provide data to form a custom sellermarketplace item web page displaying the marketplace item or items. Thatis, the selling user can enter data in the marketplace-item-creationform to develop the web page to thereby provide item information todescribe the various attributes of for one or more associatedmarketplace items. For example, the marketplace-item-creation form caninclude fields such as: a main category and/or subcategories of theitem; a title and/or subtitle of the item; a physical location of theitem, if applicable; pricing information; the item description; userselectable visual enhancements, i.e., highlighting; paymentrequirements; and shipping requirements and limitations, just to name afew.

During form completion, the selling user can select or otherwise uploadone or more original item image files displaying an item image of themarketplace item or items. This original item image file can beidentified by file location within a selling user computer associatedstorage device or uniform resource locator. Upon completion and as partof submittal of each marketplace-item-creation form, data related to arespective one of a plurality of marketplace items defining databaserecord data that was entered by each respective selling user is sent orotherwise transmitted from each associated one of the plurality ofselling user computers. The database record data is received by theseller marketplace item management server and stored in the sellermarketplace item management server database to define a correspondingplurality of database records. The data can indicate immediate postingor can provide a scheduled posting time. According to the selling userposting time selection, the seller marketplace item management programproduct instructions can include those to perform the operation ofqueuing each of the plurality of database records for sending to themarketplace administrator server, and sending each of the plurality ofdatabase records to the marketplace administrator server in response toeach respective scheduled item posting time. According to an embodimentthe present invention, the original item image files each associatedwith one of the database records can be sent along with the associateddatabase record. According to another embodiment of the presentinvention, a location of the original item image file or files such as,for example, a respective uniform resource locator, can instead beprovided within each associated database record.

The system can further include online e-commerce program product storedin the memory of the marketplace administrator server. The onlinee-commerce program product can include instructions that, when executedby the marketplace administrator server, cause the marketplaceadministrator server to selectively perform various operations includingreceiving each of the plurality of database records from the sellermarketplace item management server over the network, storing each of theplurality of database records in the marketplace administrator serverdatabase, and receiving or retrieving over the network the original itemimage file for each of the plurality of marketplace items. The onlinee-commerce program product includes instructions to perform theoperations of randomly generating or otherwise forming a set of at leasttwo or more scaled item image files, and discarding the original imagefile. The image files can be randomly generated within respectivepreselected viewable image size ranges and can provide image sizevariations of the item image of each respective marketplace item tothereby represent each respective marketplace item. The set of at leasttwo item image files can include a first item image file providing afirst image sized randomly based on a first preselected size range and asecond item image file providing a second image sized randomly based ona second preselected size range with the second image beingsubstantially larger than the first image.

The online e-commerce program product also can include instructions toperform the operations of assigning each of the first and the seconditem image files a unique name, storing each set of first and secondimage files in the marketplace administrator image file server, andcreating and presenting to a potential buyer the seller marketplace itemweb page. That is, the instructions to perform the operation ofpresenting the seller marketplace item web page, for example, caninclude those to perform the operations of accessing one of theplurality of database records in response to a received itemidentification number for a selected marketplace item, to therebydetermine an item title and description of the selected marketplace itemand the item image file name for each of the first and the second itemimages of the selected marketplace item. The instructions can alsoinclude those to perform the operations of determining a location of thefirst image associated with the selected marketplace item and a locationof the second image associated with the selected marketplace item usingthe look-up table organized by image name in response to the accessing,and adding the image file location for the first and the second itemimage and associated title and description of the selected marketplaceitem to an associated seller marketplace item web page, to allowretrieval of the item images by the potential buyer computer and displayof the seller marketplace item web page. Note, each seller marketplaceitem web page can originate as a template whereby the specific iteminformation and item images (image locations) can be added to thetemplate to thereby “create” each individual seller marketplace item webpage.

In an embodiment of the present invention, in order to minimize the sizeof the seller marketplace item web page and allow for display ofmultiple views of the same marketplace item and/or multiple relatedmarketplace items, the seller marketplace item web page can provide asingle large second item image viewing location in, e.g., an itemdescription section of the seller marketplace item web page, to displayeach large second item image provided by the selling user to representthe marketplace item or items. The seller marketplace item web page canfurther provide a separate item image location for each associated smallfirst item image. That is, the seller marketplace item web page candisplay each small first item image which can, for example, function toallow the potential buyer to select and view the associated large seconditem image of each view represented by the selling user selected smallfirst item images, respectively. Also, one or more of the first orsecond item images can be presented in different sizes and differentlocations within the seller marketplace item web page as scaled by thebrowser of the potential buyer computer. Further, in order tostandardize the layout of the various seller marketplace item web pagesamong different selling users, according to the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, an item information section can be provided thatincludes a standardized item image of the first uploaded item in theform of either the respective large or small image, but adjusted to astandard size such as, for example, 150 pixels by 150 pixels.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a system to facilitateelectronic commerce associated with an online marketplace between aselling user computer and a potential buyer computer over a computernetwork is advantageously provided. In this embodiment, the systempreferably includes an Internet marketplace website server ormarketplace administrator server that can include a processor and memory(or storage) in communication with or coupled to the processor, to storeoperating instructions therein, and can include a database that isaccessible to the processor and contains database records about items tobe sold by the selling users. The database can be directly associatedwith the server, that of a third party image service provider, or acombination thereof.

The system includes a selling user computer positioned at a selling usersite accessible to the computer network. The selling user computer canhave a processor, memory, a graphical display, and a user interface eachcoupled to the processor. The memory which can include both volatile andnon-volatile forms, is used to store software or operating instructionstherein. The graphical display is used to display images for viewing bythe selling user. The user interface provides the selling user withaccess to manipulate the stored software or operating instructions onthe selling user computer including those for sending to the server dataabout an item.

The system also includes a potential buyer computer positioned at apotential buyer user site accessible to the computer network. Thepotential buyer computer has a processor and memory, a graphicaldisplay, and a user interface all coupled to the processor. The memoryis used to store software or operating instructions therein and toreceive images and database records from the server. The graphicaldisplay is used to display images for the potential buyer. The userinterface provides the potential buyer user with access to manipulatethe software or operating instructions and received database records.

The system can further include online e-commerce program product storedin the memory of the marketplace administrator server to facilitateelectronic commerce over the computer network between the plurality ofselling users and the plurality of potential buyers. The onlinee-commerce program product includes a set of instructions that, whenexecuted by the marketplace administrator server, cause the marketplaceadministrator server to perform the operations of receiving over thenetwork a plurality of original image files each related to a separateone of a plurality of marketplace items and each providing an item imageof the respective one of the plurality of marketplace items, and formingfrom each of the original item image files a set of at least two itemimage files to provide image size variations of each respective itemimage of each of the plurality of marketplace items. According to anembodiment of the present invention, the at least two item image filesincludes a first item image file providing a first image sized randomlybased on a first preselected size range and a second item image fileproviding a second image sized randomly based on a second preselectedsize range, the second item image substantially larger than the firstitem image.

Embodiments of the present invention also include a computer memoryelement containing, stored in signal bearing media, a databasecontaining data in computer readable format. Advantageously, such datacan indicate a community of electronically interconnected users of apublicly accessible computer network, along with various auctionitem/item for sale attributes such as, for example, a description of theitem including a location and/or name of at least two scaled images ofthe item generated from an original graphical image of the item suppliedby a selling user and randomly sized within a respective predeterminedsize range.

Embodiments of the present invention include methods of facilitatinge-commerce associated with an online marketplace between a plurality ofselling users and a plurality of potential buyers over a computernetwork. For example, in an embodiment of a method of facilitatinge-commerce, a marketplace-item-creation form for selling a first item ispresented to a selling user web browser over a computer network. Aselling user accesses the marketplace-item-creation form through aseller marketplace item management server, to thereby create a sellermarketplace item web page. The selling user begins entering data in themarketplace-item-creation form to develop the seller marketplace itemweb page to thereby provide information for one or more associated itemsto be sold or otherwise for sale. The data can include a time and aduration scheduled by the selling user for displaying the marketplaceitem or items on the seller marketplace item web page. During formcompletion, the selling user selects or otherwise uploads an originalitem image file or file location displaying an item image of an item forsale. This original item image file can be identified by file locationwithin a selling user computer associated storage device or uniformresource locator.

The method includes sending to the seller marketplace item managementserver the data related to the marketplace item or item entered in themarketplace-item-creation form for on-demand retrieval. The data caninclude a title and a description of the marketplace item or items and alocation of an original item image file of each marketplace item, whichincludes an item image of the respective marketplace item. The methodalso includes sending a database record related to the marketplace itemby the seller marketplace item management server over the computernetwork to a marketplace administrator server, storing the databaserecord related to the marketplace item in a marketplace administratorserver database for use on the online marketplace, and receiving theoriginal item image file of the marketplace item through the computernetwork. The method also includes forming a set of at least two itemimage files from the original item image file to provide image sizevariations of the item image to represent the marketplace item. The setof the at least two item image files including a first item image fileproviding a first image and a second item image file providing a secondimage sized substantially larger than the first image. The at least twoitem image files are then stored in a marketplace administrator imagefile server for use on the online marketplace and discarding theoriginal image file or files to conserve memory and reduce storagerequirements. The at least two item image files can advantageouslyprovide categorical image size variations of the item image of eachmarketplace item. When used in a seller marketplace item web page, oneof the item images, when selected by a potential buyer utilizing aninput device for a potential buyer computer, can function as an iconselectable to send commands to the potential buyer computer and/orremote marketplace administrator server to display another one of the atleast two image files, to thereby display to the potential buyer anenlarged image of the marketplace item or items.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method offacilitating electronic commerce associated with an online marketplacebetween a selling user computer and a potential buyer computer over acomputer network can include the steps of receiving an original itemimage file of a marketplace item through a computer network, forming aset of at least two item image files from the original item image fileto provide image size variations of the item image to represent themarketplace item, and storing the first and the second item image filesfor use on the online marketplace. The set of at least two item imagefiles can include a first item image file providing a first image and asecond item image file providing a second image sized substantiallylarger than the first image. The first item image can be randomly sizedbased on a first preselected size range and the second image can berandomly sized based on a second preselected size range, which can besubstantially larger than the first.

Advantageously, embodiments of the methods and systems of the presentinvention, can, for example, be used with online auction web sites, aswell as direct and catalog sales websites, or a combination thereof. Theselling users and the potential buyers can be individuals or companies.Embodiments of the methods and systems of the present invention also canbe used in person-to-person, person-to-business, business-to-business,and business-to-person electronic commerce transactions.

Embodiments of the present invention also include a computer readablemedium that is readable by a computer to facilitate electronic commercebetween a plurality of selling users (selling user computers) and aplurality of potential buyers (potential buyer computers) in a computernetwork. For example, a computer readable medium can include a set ofinstructions that, when executed by a computer, such as, for example, amarketplace administrator server, cause the computer to perform theoperations of receiving a plurality of database records related to acorresponding plurality of marketplace items over the computer networkfrom a seller marketplace item management server, receiving through thecomputer network a separate original item image file for each of theplurality of marketplace items, and forming a set of at least two itemimage files from each of the original item image files to provide imagesize variations of each respective item image to thereby represent eachrespective marketplace item. Each set of at least two item image filescan include a first item image file providing a first image sizedrandomly based on a first preselected size range and a second item imagefile providing a second image substantially larger than the first imageand sized randomly based on a second preselected size range. Theinstructions can also include those to perform the operation of storingthe first and the second item image files in a marketplace administratorimage file server for on-demand retrieval and display through an onlinemarketplace, and adding to a seller marketplace item web page an imagefile location for each of the first and the second item images of atleast one of the sets of at least two item image files.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computerreadable medium can include a set of instructions that, when executed bya computer, cause the computer to perform the operations of receiving anoriginal item image file of a marketplace item through a computernetwork, forming a set of at least two item image files from theoriginal item image file to provide image size variations of an itemimage of the marketplace item to thereby represent the item for sale,and storing the first and the second item image files for use on ane-commerce website. The set of at least two item image files can includea first item image file providing a first image and a second item imagefile providing a second image sized substantially larger than the firstimage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the features and advantages of theinvention, as well as others which will become apparent, may beunderstood in more detail, a more particular description of theinvention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to theembodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings,which form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however,that the drawings illustrate only various embodiments of the inventionand are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention's scopeas it may include other effective embodiments as well.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system to facilitate electroniccommerce associated with an online marketplace between a plurality ofselling users and a plurality of potential buyers over a computernetwork according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a system to facilitate electroniccommerce associated with an online marketplace between a plurality ofselling users and a plurality of potential buyers over a computernetwork according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of a system tofacilitate electronic commerce illustrating upload of an original imagefiles over a computer network according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of a system tofacilitate electronic commerce illustrating upload of data records overa computer network according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of a system tofacilitate electronic commerce illustrating transmission of data recordsover a computer network according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of a system tofacilitate electronic commerce illustrating formation of at least twoscaled image files from an original image file according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of a system tofacilitate electronic commerce illustrating transmission of data recordsover a computer network according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of a system tofacilitate electronic commerce illustrating formation of at least twoscaled image files from an original image file according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of a system tofacilitate electronic commerce illustrating receiving search criteriafor a plurality of items according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of a system tofacilitate electronic commerce illustrating providing search resultssatisfying search criteria for a plurality of items according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of a system tofacilitate electronic commerce illustrating requesting images for aplurality of items meeting search criteria according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of a system tofacilitate electronic commerce illustrating providing images for aplurality of items meeting search criteria according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of a system tofacilitate electronic commerce illustrating a potential buyer computersizing a requested image according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of a search results web page tofacilitate electronic commerce according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of a portion of a system tofacilitate electronic commerce illustrating providing a potential buyercomputer at least two randomly sized image files according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a seller of auction-format seller webpage to facilitate electronic commerce over a computer networkassociated with an online marketplace between a plurality of sellingusers and a plurality of potential buyers according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a seller of auction-format seller webpage to facilitate electronic commerce over a computer networkassociated with an online marketplace between a plurality of sellingusers and a plurality′ of potential buyers according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating use on an onlineauction-format web page of images selected from at least two scaledimages and in different sizes and different places on the web pageaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a block flow diagram illustrating a method of facilitatingelectronic commerce on an online marketplace over a computer networkaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a block flow diagram illustrating a method of facilitatingelectronic commerce on an online marketplace over a computer networkaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a block flow diagram illustrating a method of facilitatingelectronic commerce on an online marketplace over a computer networkbetween a selling user computer and a potential buyer computer over acomputer network according to an embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 22 is a block flow diagram illustrating another method offacilitating electronic commerce at an online marketplace between aselling user computer and a potential buyer computer over a computernetwork according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments ofthe invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theillustrated embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-22, embodiments of the present inventionadvantageously provide a system, computer memory element, programproduct, and methods of facilitating e-commerce between a plurality ofselling users and a plurality of potential buyers over a communicationor computer network. As known to those skilled in the art, thise-commerce can include, but is not limited to, online auctions, onlineretail or wholesale distributors, and individual companies providingitems or services for sale online, and other such online marketplaces.

For example, as perhaps best shown in FIG. 1, a system 30 according toan embodiment of the present invention is provided to facilitatee-commerce through an online marketplace, e.g. online auction or productsale website, between a plurality of selling users and a plurality ofpotential buyers over a computer network. The system 30 includes a firstcomputer accessible to the computer network 33 to host the onlinemarketplace to thereby define a marketplace administrator server 35. Themarketplace administrator server 35 has memory 37 coupled to a processor39 to store operating instructions therein. The system 30 can alsoinclude a marketplace administrator server database 43 accessible to theprocessor 39 of the marketplace administrator server 35 and associatedwith for example, a marketplace administrator server database server 41.The database 43 can include database records 45 related to a pluralityof items to be sold by the plurality of selling users along withattribute (registration) data related to each of the selling users. Thedatabase records 45 can include for each item, an item title, itemdescription, item sale or minimum and/or maximum price, associated itemimage names and/or locations, along with other ancillary data such asshipping, insurance, or tax information and/or instructions. The system30 can also include a marketplace administrator image file server 47accessible to the processor 39 of the marketplace administrator server35 and having image files 49 related to the items to be sold by theselling users.

The system 30 includes a second computer positioned remote from themarketplace administrator server 35 and each of the plurality of sellingusers and accessible to the computer network 33 to provide sellermarketplace management services to the plurality of selling users tothereby define a seller marketplace item management server 51. Theseller marketplace item management server 51 includes a processor 55 andmemory 53 coupled to the processor 55 to store operating instructionstherein. The seller marketplace item management server 51 providesvarious management services for multiple online marketplaces includingeBay, Overstock.com, Amazon.com, Yahoo!, Shopping.com, Smarter, MSN,BizRate, Cnet, Froogle, Pricegrabber.com, and others. Some of thosefeatures provided to selling users can include tools to design a customauction or sale item posting using standard layouts and themeselections, editing multiple ads, copying previous ads to use astemplates, linking ads to specific inventory items, and deleting adsreferencing sold out items. The various selling user services can alsoinclude those for reviewing, editing, and/or deleting scheduled auctionsor other postings, viewing a consolidated listing of open auctions orother postings, viewing each postings hourly traffic, adding “HTML” tothe open postings, viewing a consolidated listing of closed postings,viewing closed auctions or other posting traffic to compare traffic frommultiple online marketplaces, and automatically reposting unsold items.The various selling user services can further include those to performinventory restocking, correct errors in an ad without recreating theentire listing, automated post-transaction communications servicesincluding invoice management, exporting invoices to accounting software,invoice consolidation for buyer of multiple items, invoice cancellation,and seller shipping label creation.

The system 30 can also include a seller marketplace item managementserver database 57 accessible to the processor 55 of the sellermarketplace item management server 51 and associated with for example, aseller marketplace item management server database server 59. Thedatabase 57 can include database records related to the plurality ofitems to be sold by the plurality of selling users which can be providedin whole, or in part, to the marketplace administrator server 35,described later. The system 30 can also include a seller marketplaceitem management image file server 61 accessible to the processor 55 ofthe seller marketplace item management server 51 and having image files69 related to the items to be sold by the selling users.

Note, the memory 37 and 53 can include volatile and nonvolatile memoryknown to those skilled in the art including, for example, RAM, ROM, andmagnetic or optical disks, just to name a few. Note, it should also beunderstood that the preferred server configurations are given by way ofexample and that other types of servers or computers configuredaccording to various other methodologies known to those skilled in theart can be used. The servers 35, 51 shown schematically in, for example,FIG. 1 each represent a server or server cluster or server farm and isnot limited to any individual physical server. The server sites may bedeployed as a server farm or server cluster managed by a serving hostingprovider. The number of servers and their architecture and configurationmay be increased based on usage, demand and capacity requirements forthe system 30.

The system 30 also includes a plurality of selling user computers 71.Each selling user computer 71 can be positioned at one or more sellinguser sites remote from the marketplace administrator server 35,accessible to the computer network 33, and can have a processor 73 andmemory 75 coupled to the processor 73 to store operating instructionstherein and to send data related to an item to the marketplaceadministrator server 35. Each selling user computer 71 can also includea display 77 in communication with the processor 73 to display itemsusing an associated selling user web browser stored in the memory 75 anda user interface 79 coupled to the processor 73 to provide the sellinguser with access to manipulate functions within the selling user webbrowser. Advantageously, this configuration allows each selling user toview and/or edit selling user registration data and to view and/or editmarketplace item/sale item attributes, upload related images, and managethe promotion and delivery of such items.

The system 30 can also include a plurality of potential buyer computers81. Each potential buyer computer 81 can be positioned at a separatepotential buyer user site remote from the marketplace administratorserver 35, accessible to the computer network 33, and a processor 83 andmemory 85 coupled to the processor to store operating instructionstherein and to receive database records. Each potential buyer computer81 also can include a display 87 in communication with the processor 83to display seller marketplace web pages accessed through the computernetwork 33 using an associated potential buyer web browser stored in thememory 85 and a user interface 89 coupled to the processor 83 to providethe potential buyer with access to manipulate functions within thepotential buyer web browser. Advantageously, this configuration allowsthe potential buyer to search for and to access a plurality of sellermarketplace item web pages (see, e.g., FIG. 2) through the computernetwork 33 to thereby view marketplace items and to bid on or purchasesuch items.

Note, although illustrated as a keyboard, the input devices 79, 89, caninclude other forms of device known to those skilled in the art such as,for example, a light pen, magnetic or optical card reader, trackball,touch screen, touchpad, or mouse. Further, the selling user computers 71and potential buyer computers 81 each can take various forms known tothose skilled in the art such as, for example, a desktop personalcomputer, portable computer, a PDA, a mobile telephone, and still otherdevices for accessing the Internet, that are adapted to interface withthe computer network 33 while positioned remote from the marketplaceadministrator server 35.

As shown in FIG. 2, the system 30 also includes seller marketplace itemmanagement program product 91 stored, for example, in the memory 53 ofthe seller marketplace item management server 51 to facilitate sellermarketplace item management between the plurality of selling users andthe online marketplace. The seller marketplace item management programproduct 91 includes functionality to allow multiple selling users toinitialize a new marketplace items, enter related data, edit the data,uploading item images, select system provided item images, and/or reviewsuch data and images prior to posting.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5 and 7, the seller marketplace item managementprogram product 91 can include instructions that, when executed by theseller marketplace item management server 51, cause the sellermarketplace item management server 51 to perform various operationsincluding providing data in the form of a web page includinginstructions to a seller user web browser for the browser to display amarketplace-item-creation form (not shown). The selling user, registeredwith one or more online marketplaces, accesses themarketplace-item-creation form through the seller marketplace itemmanagement server 51, to thereby provide data to create a sellermarketplace item web page displaying the marketplace item or items. Thatis, the selling user can enter data in the marketplace-item-creationform to develop the web page to thereby provide item information todescribe the various attributes of one or more associated marketplaceitems. The marketplace-item-creation form can include fields such as: amain category and/or subcategories of the item; a title and/or subtitleof the item; a physical location of the item, if applicable; pricinginformation; the item description; user selectable visual enhancements,i.e., highlighting; payment requirements; and shipping requirements andlimitations, just to name a few.

During form completion, the selling user can select or otherwise uploadone or more original item image files displaying an item image of themarketplace item or items (see FIG. 3). This original item image filecan be identified by file location within a selling user computerassociated storage device or uniform resource locator. Specifically,according to an embodiment of the present invention, themarketplace-item-creation form can also include a text box to enter animage location. For sellers not having their images accessible over theInternet, the marketplace-item-creation form can also include aselection button to upload images directly to the seller marketplaceitem management server 51. In such case, upon selecting the filelocation of the original image, the selling user web browser causes theoriginal image to be sent and the seller marketplace item managementserver 51 receives and stores the original item image, for example, inthe seller marketplace item management image file server 61. The sellermay then enter or initiate entry of the seller marketplace itemmanagement server stored image URL in the text box.

Upon completion and submission of the marketplace-item-creation form,the data entered by the selling user is transmitted to and received bythe seller marketplace item management server 51 (see FIG. 4) and a datarecord related to the marketplace item is stored by the sellermarketplace item management server 51, for example, in the sellermarketplace item management server database 57. The data can indicateimmediate posting or can provide a scheduled posting time. As perhapsbest shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, according to the selling user posting timeselection, the seller marketplace item management program productinstructions can include those to perform the operation of queuing eachof the plurality of database records for sending to the marketplaceadministrator server 35, and sending each of the plurality of databaserecords to the marketplace administrator server 35 in response to eachrespective scheduled item posting time. According to an embodiment thepresent invention, the original item image files each associated withone of the database records can be sent along with the associateddatabase record (FIG. 7). According to another embodiment of the presentinvention, a location of the original item image file or files such as,for example, a respective uniform resource locator, can instead beprovided within each associated database record (FIG. 5).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 18, the system 30 can further include onlinee-commerce program product 101 stored, for example, in the memory 37 ofthe marketplace administrator server 35, which provides the server 35the functionality to facilitate e-commerce through the onlinemarketplace between the plurality of selling users and the plurality ofpotential buyers over a computer network 33. The online e-commerceprogram product 101 also includes functionality to allow multiplepotential buyers to search for and access such data, view attributes ofthe marketplace items, and bid on or purchase such items. Note, theseller marketplace item management program product 91 and the e-commerceprogram product 101 can be in the form of microcode, programs, routines,and symbolic languages that provide a specific set or sets of orderedoperations that control the functioning of the hardware and direct itsoperation, as known and understood by those skilled in the art. Notealso, the seller marketplace item management program product 91 and thee-commerce program product 101, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, need not reside in its entirety in volatile memory,but can be selectively loaded, as necessary, according to variousmethodologies as known and understood by those skilled in the art.

As shown in FIGS. 5-8, the online e-commerce program product 101 caninclude instructions that, when executed by the marketplaceadministrator server 35, cause the marketplace administrator server 35to selectively perform various operations including receiving each ofthe plurality of database records from the seller marketplace itemmanagement server 51 over the network 33, storing each of the pluralityof database records 45 in the marketplace administrator server database43, and receiving or retrieving over the network 33 the original itemimage file for each of the plurality of marketplace items. The onlinee-commerce program product 101 can also include instructions to performthe operations of randomly generating or otherwise forming a set of atleast two or more scaled item image files 49, and discarding theoriginal image file. The image files 49 can be randomly generated withinrespective preselected viewable image size ranges and can provide imagesize variations of the item image of each respective marketplace item tothereby represent each respective marketplace item. The set of at leasttwo item image files 49 can include a first item image file 49 providinga first image I₁ sized randomly based on a first preselected size rangeand a second item image file 49 providing a second image I₂ sizedrandomly based on a second preselected size range with the second imageI₂ being substantially larger than the first image I₁.

The online e-commerce program product 101 also can include instructionsto perform the operations of assigning each of the first and the seconditem image files 49 a unique name, storing each set of first and secondimage files 49 in the marketplace administrator image file server 47,storing the image name in the respective marketplace item databaserecord 45 and in a look-up table of image file names which maps theimage file server 47 storing the image files 49. The images filelocations can be determined via a look-up table, organized by imagename, which maps the image file server 47. The instructions can alsoinclude those for creating and presenting to a potential buyer computer81 the seller marketplace item web page, described below.

That is, for example, as perhaps best shown in FIGS. 15-17, thee-commerce program product 101 can include instructions to perform theoperation of presenting the seller marketplace item web page 111 (see,e.g., FIGS. 16 and 17) and can include those to perform the operationsof accessing one of the plurality of database records 45 (FIG. 1) inresponse to a received item identification number for a selectedmarketplace item to thereby determine a item title and description ofthe selected item and the item image file name for each of the first andthe second item images of a selected marketplace item, determining alocation of the first image I₁ associated the selected marketplace itemand a location of the second image I₂ associated with the selectedmarketplace item using the look-up table organized by image name and inresponse to the accessing, and adding the image file location for thefirst and the second item image I₁, I₂, and associated title anddescription of the selected marketplace item to an associated sellermarketplace item web page 111 to allow retrieval of the item images I₁,I₂, by the potential buyer computer 81 and the display of the sellermarketplace item web page 111. Note, each seller marketplace item webpage 111 can originate as a template whereby the specific iteminformation and item images (image locations) can be added to thetemplate to thereby “create” each individual seller marketplace item webpage.

Note, according to embodiments of the present invention, the originalitem image files can be any type of digital image file that is capableof storing and transferring image data related to the auction item orother item for sale. Examples of suitable image files include TaggedImage File Format (TIFF), Joint Photographics Expert Group (JPEG), AudioVideo Interleave (AVI), JPEG File Interchange Format (JFIF), PortableNetwork Graphics (PNG), Windows Bitmap Format (BMP), Portable Bitmap(PBM), Portable Greymap (PGM), Portable Pixmap (PPM), Adobe Photoshop(PSD), X BitMap (XBM), X PixMap (XPM), WordPerfect Graphics Metafile(WPG), Macintosh Picture (PICT), and the like. Other suitable types ofimage files will be apparent to those of skill in the art and are to beconsidered within the scope of the present invention. Note also, each ofthe images files in the set of at least two image files can be in thesame format as that of the original image file, e.g., JPEG or GIF, sothat if a JPEG image is provided, the at least two scaled image filescan also be in JPEG.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sellermarketplace item management program product 91 and the online e-commerceprogram product 101 are web-based programs that provide web-basedfunctionality. Accordingly, beyond the installation of a common webbrowser, specialized software installation is not necessary. Because ofsuch Internet-based functionality, such program products are portable tomultiple computer systems and is easily accessible by multipleconcurrent users at a single time through online access. As perhaps bestshown in FIG. 18, the online e-commerce program product 101 can includevarious functional modules including, for example, image processing andstorage program product 103 which further includes an image processor105 and a random image size generator 107. The e-commerce programproduct can also include a marketplace item search program product 121including a search processor 123 to provide database searchfunctionality to the plurality of potential buyers, and a seller webpage development program product 131 including a seller web page adder133 to build the seller marketplace item web pages 111 in response tothe provided marketplace item attributes and scaled image file or files.

The sets of at least two scaled item image files 49 can be produced inresponse to program instructions from the e-commerce program product 101and/or an image processing and storage program product 103 stored in thememory 37 of the marketplace administrator server 35. As perhaps bestshown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the sets of scaled first item image files 49 canprovide categorical viewable image size variations of the original itemimage. The first item image I₁ can provide medium-sized imagerepresenting the item image of the marketplace item, and the second itemimage I₂ can provide a relatively large image representing the itemimage of the marketplace item.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the first item images I₁ ofthe image files 49 can range between 100 pixels by 100 pixels and 200pixels by 200 pixels, preferably 100 pixels by 100 pixels and 125 pixelsby 125 pixels, still more preferably 110 pixels by 110 pixels; and thesecond item images I₂ of the image files 49 can range between 150 pixelsby 150 pixels and 650 pixels by 650 pixels, preferably 250 pixels by 250pixels and 400 pixels by 400 pixels, more preferably 275 pixels by 275pixels and 325 pixels by 325 pixels, still more preferably 300 pixels by300 pixels. Note, according to this embodiment, the item images are notdistorted to fit the ranges described above, but rather are scaled sothat the widest portion of the item image fits within one of the abovedescribed ranges. Note also, above described image size ranges arepresented by way of example according to various embodiments of thepresent invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the viewingsizes only to the described ranges. Note further, according to anembodiment of the present invention, the at least two image files 49 canadditionally provide other image attribute variations of the item imageof the respective marketplace item, such as, for example, brightness,contrast, color enhancements, or other picture qualities known to thoseskilled in the art.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, and as perhaps bestshown in FIG. 17 and as noted above, the seller marketplace item webpage 111 can provide item information such as, for example, an itemidentification number, title, subtitle, starting price, time remaininguntil expiration, start time, history, item location, shippingrestrictions, and sales tax requirements. The seller marketplace itemweb page 111 also can provide a functional link to allow, e.g., themarketplace item, to be added to a potential buyer's watch list so thatthe potential buyer can monitor the status of the marketplace item, anda functional link to allow the item to be placed on a potential buyer'scalendar so that the potential buyer can better visualize listingexpiration dates for various items of interest to the potential buyer.This is an especially advantageous feature when the marketplace item ispresented in an auction marketplace. The seller marketplace item webpage 111 can also include selling user information including, forexample, a personal rating, business rating, percent of positiveratings, repeat rating, membership status, ratings and comments aboutthe selling user, and other information known to those skilled in theart. The seller marketplace item web page 111 further can include a linkto the selling user to advantageously provide the potential buyer anability to request additional information about the marketplace item.Further, advantageously, this functionality can provide a pre-formattedautomated e-mail to the selling user whereby the subject, greeting,and/or closing are already provided and the potential buyer need onlyenter a question in a provided text entry field (not shown) in order toprovide such question to the selling user.

In an embodiment of the present invention, in order to minimize the sizeof the seller marketplace item web page 111, an item description section113 of the web page 111, for example, can provide a single large imageviewing location 115 to display each large image I₂ provided toillustrate the marketplace item or items associated with the web page111, and a separate location 117 (FIG. 17) for each associated smallimage I₁ when more than one image of the marketplace item or multiplemarketplace items are associated with the web page 111. That is, asperhaps best shown in FIG. 17, the seller marketplace item web page 111can display small images I₁, I₁′, I₁″, which function to allow apotential buyer to select and view the corresponding large image I₂, ofeach view represented by each of the small images, respectively. Also,each displayed small image I₁ and/or the displayed large image I₂,according to an embodiment of the system 30, can be presented indifferent sizes and different locations within the web page 111 asscaled by the browser of the potential buyer computer 81. Further, inorder to standardize the layout of the various seller marketplace itemweb pages 111 among different selling users, in an embodiment of thepresent invention, an item information section 119 is provided thatincludes a standardized image, e.g., of the first uploaded marketplaceitem, preferably in the form of the large item image I₂ but adjusted toa standard size such as, for example, preferably 125 pixels by 125pixels to 175 pixels by 175 pixels, and more preferably 150 pixels by150 pixels.

In order for a potential buyer to readily access the seller marketplaceitem web page 111, the system 30 through the online marketplace, forexample, can provide the potential buyer a keyword or item number searchfunction whereby the potential buyer may enter search criteria (see FIG.9) such as key words matching those, for example, in an item's title,subtitle, or description, or the item number of the item assigned to therespective item by the marketplace administrator server 35. This searchcan be conducted in either all predetermined item categories or a subsetthereof. The online marketplace can also provide the potential buyer asearch function based on selling user identification (e.g. user name)which can display all items associated with a particular selling user.The online marketplace can further provide the potential buyer a refinedkeyword or item number search function, whereby the potential buyer isfurther provided search limiting fields such as, for example, minimumprice, maximum price, item category, and/or selling user identification.

In response to receiving the search criteria presented by a potentialbuyer web browser, the e-commerce program product 101, e.g., through themarketplace administrator server 35, can access the item data records 45of a respective plurality of items satisfying the search resultscriteria to thereby determine various attributes, such as, for example,an associated item title for each of the plurality of items satisfyingthe search results criteria and an item image file name of an item imagefile associated with each of the items satisfying the search resultscriteria. Using the name and the lookup table, described previously, thelocation of one or both of the item images I₁, I₂, for each respectivemarketplace item can be readily determined.

Having determined the attribute data and the image location and/oridentification of at least one of the item image files associatedtherewith for each of the of items satisfying the search resultscriteria, the e-commerce program product 101, through the marketplaceadministrator server 35, can provide such data to the potential buyerweb browser along with instructions (see FIG. 10) to display a searchresults web page 112 (see, e.g., FIG. 14) including those to displaywithin the search results web page 112, for example, each item title andat least one of the item images I₁, I₂, for each item image satisfyingthe search criteria. The potential buyer web browser can then requestand be provided each of the item images for each item image satisfyingthe search criteria according to the provided instructions (see FIGS.11-12). According to the provided instructions, the potential buyer webbrowser can then resize the provided item images (see FIG. 13) to bedisplayed in a table of items satisfying the search results criteria(see FIG. 14).

Regardless of search methodology employed, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, the search results web page 112 can include, forexample, a standardized layout of the various items provided bydifferent selling users. This search results web page 112 can furtherinclude hyperlinks to each of the various seller marketplace item webpages 111 satisfying the search methodology criteria associated with therespective titles of the items. The search results can also includeicons 120 each providing a hyperlink to each respective sellermarketplace item web page 111 having an item satisfying the searchmethodology criteria. Each icon can be displayed in the form of one ofthe at least two item images I₁, I₂, for each respective sellermarketplace item web page 111, adjusted to a standard size such as, forexample, 65 pixels by 65 pixels. As shown in FIGS. 15-17, upon access ofeither hyperlink by the potential buyer, a seller marketplace item webpage 111 associated with the selected image is presented, the respectiveitem data is received, and the item images, for example, images I₁, I₂are retrieved and displayed. Note, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, one ormore of the large and/or small item images I₁, I₂, can be resized foruse in different sizes in different locations on the seller marketplaceitem web page 111, in conformity with the potential buyer web browser.Note, multiple selling users can upload an original item image file oran image file location of an image file displaying an item image of amarketplace item to be received and/or retrieved by the sellermarketplace item management server 51 and provided to various onlinemarketplaces including the marketplace hosted by the marketplaceadministrator server 35.

As shown in FIGS. 1-22, embodiments of the present inventionadvantageously provide methods of facilitating e-commerce between aplurality of selling users (e.g., selling user computers 71) and aplurality of potential buyers (e.g., potential buyer computers 81) overa computer or other type of communication network 33. In an embodimentof a method of facilitating e-commerce a marketplace-item-creation formfor selling a marketplace item is presented to a selling user webbrowser over the communication or computer network 33. A selling user,preferably a previously registered user, accesses through the sellinguser computer 71 the marketplace-item-creation form accessible throughan seller marketplace item management website's remote sellermarketplace item management server 51, to thereby create a sellermarketplace item web page 111 (see, e.g., FIG. 17). The selling userbegins entering data in the marketplace-item-creation form to developthe seller marketplace item web page 111 to thereby provide informationfor one or more associated marketplace items or items for sale. Note,although illustrated and described with respect to providing auctionservices, embodiments of the present invention are equally applicable todirect product/service sales.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, during form completion, the selling userselects or otherwise uploads or otherwise sends an item image file, e.g.image file displaying an image of the marketplace item (block 151) orimage file location to be received by the seller marketplace itemmanagement server 51 (see also FIG. 3). This original item image filecan be identified by file location or address within a selling usercomputer 71 associated storage device or uniform resource locatorassociated with either a seller website or that of a third-party serviceprovider. The method can also include scheduling a time and a durationfor displaying a marketplace item on a seller marketplace item web page111 hosted by the online marketplace (block 153), and sending to theseller marketplace item management server 51 the data related to themarketplace item or item entered in the marketplace-item-creation formfor on-demand retrieval (block 155). The data can include a title and adescription of the marketplace item or items and a location of anoriginal item image file of each marketplace item, which includes anitem image of the respective marketplace item. The method also includessending by the seller marketplace item management server 51 over thecomputer network 33 a database record related to the marketplace itemand an associate original image file to a marketplace administratorserver 35 (block 157), storing the database record related to themarketplace item in a marketplace administrator server database 43 foruse on the online marketplace (block 159), and receiving the originalitem image file of the marketplace item through the computer network 33(block 161). According to another embodiment of the present invention,as shown in FIG. 20, rather than send the original image file, the filelocation, e.g., URL, can be included with the database record (block157). Correspondingly, the original item image is retrieved by themarketplace administrator server 35 using the provided image location(block 161).

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the method also includes forming a set ofat least two item image files from the original item image file toprovide image size variations of the item image to represent themarketplace item. The set of the at least two item image files includinga first item image file providing a first image I₁ and a second itemimage file providing a second image I₂ sized substantially larger thanthe first image I₁ (block 163). The at least two item image files arethen stored in a marketplace administrator image file server 47 (block165) for use on the online marketplace and the original image file orfiles are discarded (block 167) to conserve memory and reduce storagerequirements. The at least two item image files can advantageouslyprovide categorical image size variations of the item image of eachmarketplace item. The first item image I₁ can be randomly sized based ona first preselected size range and the second image I₂ can be randomlysized based on a second preselected size range, which can besubstantially larger than the first.

When used in a seller marketplace item web page 111, one of the itemimages I₁, when selected by a potential buyer utilizing an input devicefor a potential buyer computer 81, can function as an icon selectable tosend commands to the potential buyer computer 81 and/or remotemarketplace administrator server 35 to display another one of the atleast two image files I₂, to thereby display to the potential buyer anenlarged image of the marketplace item or items. The method can alsoinclude providing in the seller marketplace item web page 111 sellinguser information including, for example, a personal rating, businessrating, percent of positive ratings, repeat rating, membership status,ratings and comments about the selling user, and other information knownto those skilled in the art. The method can further include providing alink to the selling user within the seller marketplace item web page 111to advantageously provide the potential buyer an ability to requestadditional information about the item. Advantageously, as describedpreviously, this functionality can provide a preformatted automatede-mail to the selling user whereby the subject, greeting, and/or closingare already provided and the potential buyer need only enter a questionin a provided text entry field (not shown) in order to provide suchquestion to the selling user.

As shown in FIGS. 9-14 and 21, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, provided is a method for facilitating e-commerce between aplurality of selling users and a plurality of potential buyers over acomputer network which includes providing a potential buyer a keyword oritem number search function whereby the potential buyer may either enterkey words matching those in, for example, an item's title, subtitle, ordescription; or the item number of the item assigned to the respectiveitem by the system 30, or other relational attributes such as, forexample, minimum price, maximum price, item category, and/or sellinguser identification.

In response to receiving the search criteria (see FIG. 9) entered orotherwise presented by a potential buyer web browser (block 181), thesystem 30 can form (block 183) and present to the potential buyer (block185) a custom search results web page 112 including a list of itemssatisfying the search results criteria including various attributes,such as an associated item title, for each of the items satisfying thesearch results criteria, and can include an item image file name orlocation of an associated marketplace item image file for each of theitems satisfying the search results criteria, if provided by therespective selling user when completing the marketplace-item-creationform, described above, along with display instructions (see FIG. 10).The potential buyer web browser can then request and be provided atleast one of the item images I₁, I₂, for each item image satisfying thesearch criteria (block 187) according to the provided instructions (seeFIGS. 11-12). Upon receipt of the images (block 189), according to theprovided instructions, the potential buyer web browser can then positionand resize the provided item images (block 191) to be displayed in atable of items satisfying the search results criteria (see FIGS. 13-14).

As shown in FIG. 22, the method can also include providing the searchresults web page 112 such that it includes a standardized layout of thedifferent items provided by different selling users in accordance withthe search criteria. This search results web page 112 can be developedto include hyperlinks to each of the various seller marketplace item webpages 111 satisfying the search criteria associated with the respectivetitles of the items, and/or icons 120 each providing a hyperlink to eachrespective seller marketplace item web page 111 associated with an itemsatisfying such search criteria (201). Each icon can be displayed in theform of one of an item image, e.g., image I₁, I₂, adjusted to a standardsize. As shown in FIGS. 15-17, upon access of either hyperlink by thepotential buyer, a seller marketplace item web page 112 associated withthe selected image can be presented along display instructions formarketplace item data and display and retrieval instructions forassociated item images I₁, I₂, (block 203). The potential buyer webbrowser, and response to the instructions, can request each image I₁,I₂, (block 205), receive each image I₁, I₂, (block 207) and processreceived image display instructions, positioning and resize in eachimage I₁, I₂, as necessary for display.

It is important to note that while embodiments of the present inventionhave been described in the context of a fully functional system, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanism of the presentinvention and/or aspects thereof are capable of being distributed in theform of a computer readable medium of instructions in a variety of formsfor execution on a processor, processors, or the like, and that thepresent invention applies equally regardless of the particular type ofsignal bearing media used to actually carry out the distribution.Examples of computer readable media include but are not limited to:nonvolatile, hard-coded type media such as read only memories (ROMs),CD-ROMs, and DVD-ROMs, or erasable, electrically programmable read onlymemories (EEPROMs), recordable type media such as floppy disks, harddisk drives, CD-R/RWs, DVD-RAMs, DVD-R/RWs, DVD+R/RWs, flash drives, andother newer types of memories, and transmission type media such asdigital and analog communication links.

As shown in FIGS. 1-22, embodiments of the present invention include acomputer readable medium that is readable by a computer to facilitatee-commerce between a plurality of selling users (selling user computers)and a plurality of potential buyers (potential buyer computers) over acomputer network as described above, particularly with respect to theprogram product and the computer executable method steps, describedabove. For example, according to an embodiment of the present invention,a computer readable medium that is readable by a computer facilitatingelectronic commerce between a selling user computer and a potentialbuyer computer in a computer network is provided.

The computer readable medium can include a set of instructions that,when executed by the computer, such as, for example, a marketplaceadministrator server, cause the computer to perform the operations ofreceiving a plurality of database records related to a correspondingplurality of marketplace items over the computer network 33 from aseller marketplace item management server 51, receiving through thecomputer network 33 a separate original item image file for each of theplurality of marketplace items, and forming a set of at least two itemimage files from each of the original item image files to provide imagesize variations of each respective item image to thereby represent eachrespective marketplace item. Each set of at least two item image filescan include a first item image file providing a first image I₁ sizedrandomly based on a first preselected size range and a second item imagefile providing a second image I₂ substantially larger than the firstimage and sized randomly based on a second preselected size range. Thefirst preselected size range can be, for example, between approximately100 pixels by 100 pixels and 200 pixels by 200 pixels, preferably 100pixels by 100 pixels and 125 pixels by 125 pixels, still more preferably110 pixels by 110 pixels. The second preselected size range can be, forexample, between approximately 150 pixels by 150 pixels and 650 pixelsby 650 pixels, preferably 250 pixels by 250 pixels and 400 pixels by 400pixels, more preferably 275 pixels by 275 pixels and 325 pixels by 325pixels, still more preferably 300 pixels by 300 pixels.

The instructions can also include those to perform the operations ofstoring the first and the second item image files in a marketplaceadministrator image file server 47 for on demand retrieval and displaythrough an online marketplace, discarding the original image file inresponse to forming the respective set of at least two item image filesto reduce marketplace administrator image file server storagerequirements. The instructions can also include those to perform theoperations of storing the name of the image files I₁, I₂, in both anassociated database records 45 and in a lookup table mapping themarketplace administrator image file server 47.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the instructionscan include those to perform the operation of adding to a sellermarketplace item web page, e.g., web page 111, an image file locationfor each of the first and the second item images I₁, I₂, of at least oneof the sets of at least two item image files. Correspondingly, theinstructions also include those to perform the operations of receivingan item identification number identifying the marketplace item, andaccessing an item database record for the marketplace item in responseto receiving the item identification number, to thereby access anassociated title and description of the marketplace item and to therebyaccess an item image file name for each of the first and second imagesI₁, I₂, associated with the marketplace item. The instructions alsoinclude those to perform the operation of determining a location of thefirst image I₁ (image file) associated with the marketplace item and alocation of the second image I₂ (image file) associated with themarketplace item, in responsive to the accessing, using a look-up tableorganized by image file name.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed a typicalpreferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms areemployed, the terms are used in a descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth inthe following claims. The invention has been described in considerabledetail with specific reference to these illustrated embodiments. It willbe apparent, however, that various modifications and changes can be madewithin the spirit and scope of the invention as described in theforegoing specification.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system to facilitate electronic commerceassociated with an online marketplace between a plurality of sellingusers and a plurality of potential buyers over a computer network, thesystem comprising: a first computer accessible to the computer networkto host the online marketplace to thereby define a marketplaceadministrator server, the marketplace administrator server having aprocessor and memory coupled to the processor to store operatinginstructions therein; a marketplace administrator server databaseaccessible to the processor of the marketplace administrator server andhaving database records related to a plurality of marketplace items bythe plurality of selling users, each item database record including aunique item identification number, item title, item description, and atleast two unique item image file names corresponding with at least twoassociated item image files; a marketplace administrator image fileserver accessible to the processor of the marketplace administratorserver and having image files related to the plurality of items to besold by the plurality of selling users, each image file having a uniqueimage file name; a lookup table organized by image file name accessibleto the processor of the marketplace administrator server and mappingimage files stored in the image file server; a second computerpositioned remote from the marketplace administrator server and each ofthe plurality of selling users and accessible to the computer network toprovide seller marketplace item management services to the plurality ofselling users to thereby define a seller marketplace item managementserver, the seller marketplace item management server having a processorand memory coupled to the processor to store operating instructionstherein; a seller marketplace item management server database accessibleto the processor of the seller marketplace item management server andhaving database records related to the plurality of marketplace items tobe sold by the plurality of selling users; a seller marketplace itemmanagement image file server accessible to the processor of the sellermarketplace item management server and having image files related to theplurality of marketplace items to be sold by the plurality of sellingusers; a plurality of selling user computers each positioned at aseparate selling user site remote from the marketplace administratorserver and the seller marketplace item management server, accessible tothe computer network and having a processor and memory coupled to theprocessor to store operating instructions therein, each selling usercomputer positioned to transmit data related to a marketplace itemincluding an item title, item description, and scheduled item postingtime and duration, and positioned to transmit a uniform resource locatorproviding an address for an original item image file including an itemimage of the marketplace item; a plurality of potential buyer computerseach positioned at a separate potential buyer user site remote from themarketplace administrator server and seller marketplace item managementserver, and each accessible to the computer network to access aplurality of seller marketplace item web pages through the computernetwork; seller marketplace item management program product stored inthe memory of the seller marketplace item management server tofacilitate seller marketplace item management between the plurality ofselling users and the online marketplace, the seller marketplace itemmanagement program product including instructions that, when executed bythe seller marketplace item management server, cause the to sellermarketplace item management server to perform the operations of:receiving data related to a respective one of a plurality of marketplaceitems defining database record data from each of the plurality ofselling user computers over the computer network, storing in the sellermarketplace item management server database the database record datareceived from each of the plurality of selling user computers to definea corresponding plurality of database records, queuing each of theplurality of database records for sending to the marketplaceadministrator server, and sending each of the plurality of databaserecords to the marketplace administrator server, responsive to eachrespective scheduled item posting time; and an online e-commerce programproduct stored in the memory of the marketplace administrator server tofacilitate electronic commerce over the computer network between theplurality of selling users and the plurality of potential buyers, theonline e-commerce program product including instructions that, whenexecuted by the marketplace administrator server, cause the marketplaceadministrator server to perform the operations of: receiving each of theplurality of database records from the seller marketplace itemmanagement server over the network, storing each of the plurality ofdatabase records in the marketplace administrator server database,receiving over the network the original item image file for each of theplurality of marketplace items, forming from each of the original itemimage files a set of at least two item image files to provide image sizevariations of the item image of each respective marketplace item tothereby represent each respective marketplace item, the set of at leasttwo item image files including a first item image file providing a firstimage sized randomly based on a first preselected size range and asecond item image file providing a second image sized randomly based ona second preselected size range, the second image being substantiallylarger than the first image, storing each set of first and second itemimage files in the marketplace administrator image file server, each ofthe first and the second item image files assigned a unique name,accessing one of the plurality of database records responsive to areceived item identification number for a selected marketplace item tothereby determine an item title and description of the selectedmarketplace item and the item image file name for each of the first andthe second item images of the selected marketplace item, determining alocation of the first image associated the selected marketplace item anda location of the second image associated with the selected marketplaceitem using the look-up table organized by image name responsive to theaccessing, and adding the image file location for the first and thesecond item image and associated title and description of the selectedmarketplace item to an associated seller marketplace item web page.
 2. Asystem as defined in claim 1, wherein the seller marketplace itemprogram product further includes instructions to perform the operationof sending each of the plurality of the original item image files to themarketplace administrator server responsive to each respective scheduleditem posting time.
 3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein each ofthe plurality of database records received over the computer networkfrom the seller marketplace item management server includes a uniformresource locator providing an address for the original item image fileof the respective marketplace item; wherein the seller marketplace itemmanagement program product further includes instructions to perform theoperations of: receiving over the computer network the plurality oforiginal item image file each relating to one of the plurality ofmarketplace items, each original item image file including an item imageof the respective marketplace item, and storing the plurality oforiginal item image files in the seller marketplace item managementimage file server; and wherein the instructions to perform the operationof receiving over the network the original item image file for each ofthe plurality of marketplace items further includes those to perform theoperations of: retrieving the original item image file for each of theplurality of marketplace items responsive to receipt of the respectiveuniform resource locator, and discarding each original image fileresponsive to forming each respective set of at least two item imagefiles to reduce marketplace administrator image file server storagerequirements.
 4. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of theplurality of potential buyer computers includes a potential buyer webbrowser; wherein the online e-commerce program product further includesinstructions to perform the operations of: receiving search criteriapresented by a potential buyer web browser, accessing a plurality ofmarketplace item database records of a respective plurality ofmarketplace items satisfying the search results criteria responsive tothe search criteria to thereby determine an associated item title foreach of the plurality of marketplace items satisfying the search resultscriteria and an item image file name of a first item image of the atleast two item image files for each of the plurality of marketplaceitems satisfying the search results criteria, determining the item titleand the image location of the first item image associated therewith foreach of the plurality of marketplace items satisfying the search resultscriteria, providing data to the potential buyer web browser, the dataincluding the item title and the image location of the first item imageassociated therewith for each of the plurality of items satisfying thesearch results criteria and instructions to display a search results webpage including those to display within the search results web page eachitem title and each first item image, receiving a request from thepotential buyer web browser for each respective first item image of eachof the plurality of items satisfying the search results criteria, andproviding to the potential buyer web browser each requested first itemimage; and wherein the first image is substantially larger than athumbnail sized image defined as an image including an image size havinga maximum of approximately 96 pixels by 96 pixels.
 5. A system asdefined in claim 1, wherein the first image is larger than 100 pixels by100 pixels.
 6. A method of facilitating electronic commerce associatedwith an online marketplace between a selling user computer and apotential buyer computer over a computer network, the method comprising:scheduling a time and a duration for displaying a marketplace item on aseller marketplace item web page hosted by the online marketplace;sending data related to the marketplace item over the computer networkto a seller marketplace item management server for storage and on-demandretrieval, the data including a title and a description of themarketplace item and a location of an original item image file of themarketplace item, the original item image file including an item imageof the marketplace item; sending a database record related to themarketplace item by the seller marketplace item management server overthe computer network to a marketplace administrator server; storing thedatabase record related to the marketplace item in a marketplaceadministrator server database for use on the online marketplace;receiving the original item image file of the marketplace item throughthe computer network; forming a set of at least two item image filesfrom the original item image file to provide image size variations ofthe item image to represent the marketplace item, the set of the atleast two item image files including a first item image file providing afirst image and a second item image file providing a second image sizedsubstantially larger than the first image; and storing the first and thesecond item image files in a marketplace administrator image file serverfor use on the online marketplace.
 7. A method of claim 6, the methodfurther comprising the step of: discarding the original image fileresponsive to forming the set of at least two item image files to reducemarketplace administrator image file server database storagerequirements.
 8. A method of claim 6, wherein the marketplaceadministrator image file server includes a set of first images for eachof a plurality of marketplace items; and wherein the method furthercomprises the steps of: receiving search criteria presented by potentialbuyer web browser, providing data to the potential buyer web browserresponsive to the search criteria, the data including an item title andan image location of a first image associated therewith for each of aplurality of marketplace items satisfying the search results criteriaand instructions to display a search results web page including those todisplay within the search results web page each item title and eachfirst image, each image location determined using a look-up tableorganized by image name, requesting each first image for each of theplurality of marketplace items satisfying the search results criteria bythe potential buyer web browser, receiving the request for each firstimage for each of the plurality of marketplace items satisfying thesearch results criteria from the potential buyer web browser, providingeach requested first image to the potential buyer web browser responsiveto the request, receiving each requested image by the potential buyerweb browser, and processing the associated display instructions by thepotential buyer web browser for each retrieved first image, positioningand sizing each received first image, to thereby visually display thefirst image of each item satisfying the search results as a relativelysmall thumbnail-sized image visually resized between approximately 50pixels to 90 pixels.
 9. A method of claim 6, wherein the marketplaceadministrator image file server includes a set of first and secondimages for each of a plurality of marketplace items, and wherein themethod further comprises the steps of: requesting a selected sellermarketplace item web page associated with a selected marketplace item bythe potential buyer web browser; accessing a database record for theselected marketplace item responsive to receiving an item identificationnumber associated with the selected marketplace item to thereby access atitle and a description of the selected marketplace item and to therebyaccess a respective item image file name for each of the first and thesecond images associated with the selected marketplace item; determininga location of the first image associated with the selected marketplaceitem and a location of the second image associated with the selectedmarketplace item responsive to the request using a look-up tableorganized by image name; providing data to the potential buyer webbrowser, the data including the item title and description, the locationof the first image associated with the selected marketplace item, thelocation of the second image associated with the selected marketplaceitem, and instructions to display the seller marketplace item web pageincluding those to display the item title and description, the firstimage, and the second image of the selected marketplace item; requestingthe first and the second images by the potential buyer web browser;receiving the request for the first and the second images from thepotential buyer web browser; providing the first and the second imagesto the potential buyer web browser responsive to the request; receivingthe first and the second images by the potential buyer web browser; andprocessing the associated display instructions for the first and thesecond images responsively visually resizing the first and the secondimages for display.
 10. A method of claim 6, wherein the step of forminga set of at least two item image files from the original item image filefurther includes: randomly sizing the first image based on a firstpreselected size range; and randomly sizing the second image based on asecond preselected size range.
 11. A method of claim 10, wherein thefirst preselected size range is between approximately 125 pixels and 175pixels; and wherein the second preselected size range is betweenapproximately 275 pixels and 325 pixels.
 12. A computer readable mediumthat is readable by a computer to facilitate electronic commerce betweena plurality of selling user computers and a plurality of potential buyercomputers over a computer network to define a marketplace administratorserver, the computer readable medium comprising a set of instructionsthat, when executed by the marketplace administrator server, cause themarketplace administrator server to perform the following operations:receiving a plurality of database records related to a correspondingplurality of marketplace items over the computer network from a sellermarketplace item management server; receiving through the computernetwork a separate original item image file for each of the plurality ofmarketplace items; forming a set of at least two item image files fromeach of the original item image files to provide image size variationsof each respective item image to thereby represent each respectivemarketplace item, each set of at least two item image files including afirst item image file providing a first image sized randomly based on afirst preselected size range and a second item image file providing asecond image substantially larger than the first image and sizedrandomly based on a second preselected size range; storing the first andthe second item image files in a marketplace administrator image fileserver for on-demand retrieval and display through an onlinemarketplace; and adding to a seller marketplace item web page an imagefile location for each of the first and the second item images of atleast one of the sets of at least two item image files.
 13. A computerreadable medium as defined in claim 12, further comprising a set ofinstructions that, when executed by the marketplace administratorserver, cause the marketplace administrator server to perform thefollowing operation: discarding each original image file, responsive toforming the respective set of at least two item image files, to reducemarketplace administrator image file server storage requirements.
 14. Acomputer readable medium as defined in claim 12, wherein the firstpreselected size range is between approximately 125 pixels and 175pixels; and wherein the second preselected size range is betweenapproximately 275 pixels and 325 pixels.
 15. A computer readable mediumthat is readable by a computer to facilitate electronic commerce over acomputer network between a selling user computer and a potential buyercomputer, the computer readable medium comprising a set of instructionsthat, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform thefollowing operations: receiving an original item image file of an itemfor sale through a computer network; forming a set of at least two itemimage files from the original item image file to provide image sizevariations of an item image of the item for sale to thereby representthe item for sale, the set of at least two item image files including afirst item image file providing a first image and a second item imagefile providing a second image sized substantially larger than the firstimage; and storing the first and the second item image files for use onan e-commerce website.
 16. A computer readable medium as defined inclaim 15, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executedby the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operation:discarding the original image file responsive to forming the set of atleast two item image files to reduce storage requirements.
 17. Acomputer readable medium as defined in claim 15, further comprising aset of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause thecomputer to perform the following operations: randomly sizing the firstimage based on a first preselected size range; and randomly sizing thesecond image based on a second preselected size range.
 18. A computerreadable medium as defined in claim 15, further comprising a set ofinstructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer toperform the following operations: receiving an item identificationnumber identifying the item for sale; accessing an item database recordfor the item for sale, responsive to receiving the item identificationnumber to thereby access an associated title and description of the itemfor sale and to thereby access an item image file name for each of thefirst and second images associated with the item for sale; anddetermining a location of the first image associated the item for saleand a location of the second image associated with the item for saleresponsive to the accessing using a look-up table organized by imagefile name.